Slitting and punching attachment for piece-end sewing machines



March 9, 1948. w, ADLEY 437,662

SLITTING AND PUNCHING ATTACHMENT FOR PIECE-END SEWING MACHINES Filed May 5, 1943 4 Sheets-Sheet l Mia/B70107 W n lf z I M 6 7 M g,

March 9, 14. w. N. HADLEY SLITTING AND PUNCHING ATTACHMENT FOR PIECE-END SEWING MACHINES. I

Filed May 5, 1943 AA'AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAIAAL VVY 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 @87 1;- mw v Z WKW Mamh 1948- w. N. HADLEY 2,437,662

SLITTING AND PUNCHING ATTACHMENT FOR PIECE-END SEWING MACHINES Filed May 5, 1943 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 March 9, 1948. 1 2,437,662

SLITTING AND ruiqcnme ATTACHMENT FOR PIECE-END SEWING MACHINES w. N. HADLEY Filed May 5, 1343: v

0 u I 4 41 m 7 n M.

M. Mama Patented Mar. 9,1948

SLITTING AND PUNCHING ATTACHMENT FOR PIECE-END SEWING MACHINES Wilfred N. Hadley, Springfield, Vt., assignor to Parks and Woolson Machine Company, Springfield, Vt., a corporation Application May 5, 1943, Serial No. 485,724

14 Claims.

This invention relates to sewing machines in general, and in particular to piece-end sewing machines employed in mills and cloth finishing plants for sewing together the adjacent ends of two lengths or cuts of fabric to enable them to be run through processing machines as a substantially continuous web. In the process of shearing the cloth, it is necessary to avoid shearing the seams joining these adjacent ends, as otherwise the two lengths of cloth would come apart, and automatic devices for detecting the approach of the seams to the shearing point and for suspending the shearing While the seams pass this point are frequently employed. Such devices are shown and described in my Patents No. 2,321,481 and No. 2,321,482, granted June 8, 1943, in which the approach of the seam is detected by feeler fingers yieldingly pressing against one surface of the cloth and reaching through the traveling web to complete an electric circuit which actuates the automatic shearing-interrupting devices to suspend the shearing operation until the seam has cleared the shearing point. In an alternative form disclosed in the first of the above patents, a beam of light passes through the web to actuate a photo-electric cell and close the circuit. Provision is made for letting the feelers or the beam of light through the web at the desired moment either by sewing the seam so loosely as to let the ends of the pieces of fabric stand a fraction of an inch apart, or by trimming the ends so that when stitched together such spaces will be left between the ends at intervals in the length of the seam, or alternatively by cutting or'punching holes in the web in predetermined spaced relation from the seam, to let the impulse through.

The present invention is immediately concerned with the provision of simple and efiective means for cutting or punching these feeler holes in the web, to enable it to actuate the detecting and shearing-suspending devices of the aforesaid applications when the web is run through a cloth shear equipped with these automatic seam-passing devices. For convenience, the present invention is contrived as an adjunct to the common piece-end sewing machine, so that the desired feeler-holes will be cut in the web in predetermined spaced relation lengthwise of the fabric from the seam, in the act of stitching the ends together to form the seam which is to be protected by the action of the automatic seam-passing mechanism.

In its preferred form, the device comprises essentially a knife or other cutting device which 2 is projected through the planes of the two pieces of cloth while they lie'one on top of the other on the cloth support of the sewing machine in the act of stitching the scam, the knife or cutting device being forced through the cloth to make a slit or hole therethrough of 'the desired length or size at the desired distance away from the seam. Preferably, the knife or other cutting device is actuated automatically at predetermined intervals in the length of the seam, to make a plurality of holes at known intervals in the width of the fabric, to locate the holes in the zone of the width of the web which is covered by the feeler, and to ofifer an opportunity for a plurality of feeler fingers or light beams to get through the plane of the web to insure certainty of detection.

Other objects of the invention, and the manner of their attainment, are as set forth hereinafter.

Illustrated embodiments of the invention are shown in the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a front elevation of certain parts of a railway type piece end sewing machine, showing the device of the invention applied thereto to cut slits in the 'web adjacent the seam formed by such machine, and showing the knife with its retaining plate removed to show its shape.

Fig. 2 is a side view on line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a view of two successive pieces of fabric joined together by a seam, showing the location of the slits.

Fig. 5 is a front view of certain of the parts of a rotary type piece-end sewing machine, showing a, slitting device according to the invention applied thereto.

Figs. 6 and 7 are side and top views of the movable arm which carries the knife in Fig. 5.

Fig. 8 is a section on line 88 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 9 is a view in section on line 9-9 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 5 of a rotary type piece-end sewing machine, showing a punching attachment for punching holes in the cloth adjacent the seam.

Fig. 11 is a plan view of certain of the parts of Fig. 10.

The railway type piece-end sewing machine of Fig. 1 is a Dinsmore machine of conventional commercial design apart from the elements added thereto to embody the invention in such machine. Thus, a traveling carriage l sliding or rolling on a track comprising spaced and parallel rails 3 carries a motor 5 driving a sewing machine 1 and also driving a train of gearing (not shown) which propels the entire carriage-l with its parts along rails 3 from left to right,

time

to carry the cloth past the needle until a seam extending across the full width of the fabric has been completed.

In accordance with the invention, a bracket 9| is fixed to the shelf 8|, and extends forward into proximity with the rim of wheel 85, where there is a member having a base 93 attached by screws 95. On this base is an integral sleeve 91, in which is fixed a pin 99 forming the pivot for one end of a knife carrier I! having a hub I03 fitting the pin 99 and retained thereon by the head of such pin. The left hand extremity (Fig. 5) of this knife carrier is offset rearwardly away from wheel 35 and formed with a hub I05 in which is fixed a pin similar to that indicated at 43, 45 in Fig. 2. To the enlarged head I01 of this pin there is attached by screw I09 the short horizontal portion of an L-shaped bracket III corresponding to the part 39 of Fig. 2. On the long vertical portion of bracket III is mounted a knife II3 made and attached as in Figs. 1 and 2, by means of a plate I I5 and screw I I1 and pins I I9.

The intermediate portion of knife carrier IIII is made with considerable depth, and is provided with a transversely extending slot IZI, in which is adjustably fixed a stud I23 having a reduced end portion I 25 extending under the rim of wheel 85, where it is engaged at periodic intervals in the revolution of the wheel incident to the feeding of the cloth past the needle 89, by a cam which swings the knife carrier clockwise about its pivot 99 to force the pointed end of knife II 3 up through both thicknesses of the cloth closely adjacent the rear edge of the rim to form the feeler slits in the cloth. The needle passes through the cloth at a point I53 about /1" to the rear of the rim of the cloth supporting wheel. The cam which actuates the knife is indicated at I21, and has the shape in side elevation shown in Fig. 5. It is attached by means of its shank and screws I29 to a generally T-shaped bracket I3I which is attached by screws I33 to the interior surface of the rim of wheel 85. As in the case of Fig. 1 the slits are commonly formed about 11" in from each salvage of the fabric, and therefore two cams, each on its bracket, are provided in the circuit of wheel 85, in proper spaced relation about the wheel to suit the width of the fabric being seamed. A plurality of threaded holes (not 'shown) is provided along th rim of wheel 85, to

provide for appropriate shift of one bracket with its cam to suit the width of the cloth.

As before in Fig. 1, a presser I35 and guard I31 for knife II3 are provided above the cloth,

the presser here comprising a strip of metal curved to conform to the periphery of wheel 85, with both ends bent up and the right hand end welded to the square head I39 of a pin having a shank I4I rotating freely in a hub I43 on the end of a lug I45 formed integrally with hub 91 and base 93 therefor. Thus lug I45 is rigid with base 93, and is merely a bracket. Collar I41 retains pin I4| in hub I43. This presser I35 is slotted directly above the knife, and the slot is covered by,

the guard I31 fixed to the presser I35, just as in Fig. 1. Any suitable spring means is used to hold presser I35 firmly enough against the cloth to insure penetration by the knife. A portion of the width of presser I35 presses against the cloth where the latter is supported on the rim of cloth supporting wheel 85. The two plies of cloth are indicated at I5I in Figs. 8 and 9, the cross indicated at I53 denoting the line along whichthe needle penetrates the fabric.

Another alternative form of the invention is shown in Figs. 10 and 11, in which devices are provided on a coventional Dinsiiiore rotary type piece-end sewing machine for cutting or punching round holes at the same general locations in the fabric and for the same purposes as the slits 15 previously described. In this embodiment, the parts of the sewing machine are or may be as usual in these conventional machines and as shown and described in connection with Fig. 5, except for the elements added to embody the invention therein, and bear the same reference characters as in Fig. 5, except that the usual trimmer, not shown in Fig. 5, is indicated at I55. In accordance with the invention, a pair of tubular punching elements I51 is fixed in the rim of wheel with the two members of the pair in closely spaced relation in the direction around the rim, there being at least two pairs thus 1ocated at proper angular intervals about the rim to form a pair of holes through both plies of the fabric during the stitching operation at points roughly 11" in from each selvage. The exterior of each punching element is screw threaded and screwed into a threaded hole through the rim until their cutting ends extend above the surface of the rim far enough to insure cutting through both plies of the thickest fabric to be stitched, the elements being fixed in this relation by locknuts I59. The elements I51 are tubular and are made of extra hard alloy steel and provided with keen cutting edges. An ample series of threaded holes additional to those occupied by the four punching elements are provided in the rim, to enable shift of the punches to suit the particular width of the fabric.

Cooperating with the punches is a bronze roll IEI which rolls on the surface of the upper ply of the fabric stretched around the rim of wheel 85 and impaled on pins 81 during the stitching, the roll rolling between the pairs of pins as shown in Fig. 11 and over the cutting ends of the punches to force the latter through both plies of the fabric, thereby making clean-cut holes through the fabric normally of about /4" in diameter, through which the feeler fingers make sure contact with the platen of the feeler device, or the beam of light shines to actuate the photo-electric cell, to suspend the shearing while the seam passes the shearing blades. This roll rotates on a pin I63 fixed in the end of arm I65 pivoting on a pin I61 fixed in lugs I69 on a base I1! fastened to a lateral extension of the shelf 8| which supports the sewing machine 19. A heavy contracting'spiral spring I13 is anchored at its lower endtothe pedestal (not shown) supporting the sewing machine, and is connected by link I15 with the pin I63 to force the roller against the cloth with the requisite pressure to cause the punches to cut through the latter as the revolution of wheel 85 during the stitching carries the punches and the superposed cloth past the roll.

The adaptation of the slitting and punching attachments to other types of piece-end sewing machines beside those shown anddescribed herein, is performed in analogous manner, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art. 7 While I have illustrated and described certain forms in which the invention may be embodied, I am aware that many modifications may be made therein by any person skilled in the art, without departing from the scope of the invention as expressed in the claims. Therefore, I do I not wish to 'be limited to the particular forms Zhown, or to the details of construction thereof,

What I do claim is: V 1. A sewing machine for joining cut ends of cloth having in combination stitch-forming devices, a wheel supporting'the cloth during" the sewing and rotating to carry 'thecloth past the stitching-forming devices, a cutter, and means forcing the cutter through the cloth on the. op:- posite side of the seam from the cut ends. while the cloth is being carried by the wheel.

2. In a cloth-sewing machine, in combination, stitch-forming devices, a support therefor, a cloth support, means efiecting relative movement of the two supports to feed the cloth past the stitch-forming devices, a punch mounted on one of these supports, and means in connection with the other of these supports cooperating with the punch to force the latter to cut through the threads of the cloth.

3. A sewing machine for Joining cut ends of cloth having in combination stitch-forming devices, a wheel supporting the clothduring the sewing and rotating to carry the cloth past the stitch-forming devices, at least one punch r0,- tating with the wheel, and means pressing, the cloth against the punch to cause the latter to cut through the cloth.

4. A sewing machine for joining cut ends of cloth having in ombination stitch-forming devices, a wheel supporting the cloth during the sewing and rotating to carry the cloth past the stitch-forming devices, a' punch fixed in'the cloth-supporting surface of the wheel, and a roller rolling on the surface of the cloth where the latter is supported by the wheel, such roller pressing the cloth against the punch to cause the latter to cut through the cloth.

5. A sewing machine for joining cut ends of cloth having in combination a track, a carriage traveling along such track, a sewing machine on the carriage, a cutter movably mounted on' the carriage, and means thrusting the cutter through the cloth on the opposite side of the seamfrom the cut ends of the cloth.

6. A cloth-sewing machine having in combination a track, a carriage traveling along such track, a sewing machine on the carriage, a cutter movably mounted on the carriage, and means in op,- eratively fixed relation with respect tot'h'e track actuating the cutter through movement ofthe carriage and cutter past such means to thrust the cutter through the cloth.

7. In a cloth-sewing machine, in combination, stitch-forming devices, a support therefor, a knife movably mounted on such support, a cloth support, and cam means in connection with the cloth support actuating the knife, through relative movement of the two supports, to thrust the knife through the cloth to cut holes in the atter.

8. In a cloth-sewing machine, in combination, stitch-forming devices, a support'therefor, a cloth support, means effecting relative 'riiovement of the two supports to feedthe cloth past the stitch-forming devices, a knife mounted on one of these supports, and cam means in connection with the other of these supports actuating the knife through the said relative movement to thrust the knife through the cloth to cut holes in the latter.

9. A cloth-sewing machine having in combination a track, a carriage traveling .along :such track, a sewing machine on 'the carriage, a knife pivotally mounted on the carriage, and knifeactuating members alongside the :path of :the

carriage at one or more points in the length of the carriages travel'swinging the knife about its pivot to thrust it through the cloth to cut holes in the latter beside the line of stitches formed by the sewing machine.

'10. A sewing machine for joining cut ends of cloth having in combination a track, a carriage traveling along such traclg'a sewingmachine on the carriage, a knife pivotally mounted on the carriage, power means for driving the carriage a'ndthe sewing machine, a rockshaft extending along the track controlling the power driving means, and strikers adjustably fixed on such rockshaft each swinging the knife on its pivotal mounting as the knife travels along the track, whereby the knife is thrust through the cloth to cut holes in the cloth.

'11. A sewing machine for joining cut ends of cloth having-in combination stitch-forming devices, a wheel supporting the cloth during the sewing and rotating to'carry the cloth past the stitch-forming devices, a pivotally mounted knife, and means on the wheel swinging the knife on its pivotto thrust the knife through thecloth'to cut holes in the latter.

12. A sewing machine for joining cut ends of cloth having in combination a fixed support, stitch-forming devices on such support, a traveling support carrying the cloth past the stitchforming devices, a knife pivotally mounted on one support, and a striker on the other support engaging apart in connection with the knife in passing, such engagement swinging the knife about its pivot and thrusting the knife through the cloth to 'cut holes in the latter.

13. A sewing machine for joining cut ends of cloth having in combination a support, stitchforming devices on such support, a wheel supporting thecloth during the sewing and rotating to carry the cloth past the stitchforming devices, an arm pivotally mounted on the support, a knife mounted on the arm, and a cam on the wheel engaging and moving the arm as the wheel rotates, thereby thrusting the knife through the cloth to cut holes in the latter.

14. .A sewing machine for joining cut ends of cloth having in combination a support, stitchforming devices on such support, a wheel supporting the cloth during the sewing and rotatin tocarry the cloth past the stitch-forming devices, an arm pivotally mounted on the support, a knife mounted on the arm, a cam on the wheel engaging and moving the arm as the wheel rotates, thereby thrusting the knife through the cloth to cut holes in the latter, and a .presser holding the cloth against displacement under the thrust of the knife.

WILFRED N. HADLEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent: H

UNITED STATES PATENTS Corrall et a1. "1--.... Jan. 6, 

